South Peninsula Hospital offers Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support to all community members and families dealing with all types of diabetes.

Individual sessions and occasional group classes are available.

Topics covered include:

– Goal setting

-Identifying Blood glucose patterns and finding ways to deal with them

– Staying active

– Healthy eating & nutrition education

– Strengthening coping skills

– Taking advantage of new technologies

– Understanding medications

– Decreasing complication risks

– Making action plans

– Working with health care providers

– Using glucose meters & continuous glucose monitors to identify blood sugar patterns

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support is covered by most insurance programs, including Medicare. Sliding scale fees are available. Our program meets national standards and is recognized by the American Diabetes Association. A referral from your health care provider is required.  There is no need to be a Homer Medical Center patient. For more information and appointments, call (907) 235-0311.

South Peninsula Hospital also offers diabetes care through the  Specialty Clinic with Ross Tanner, D.O., founder of the Diabetes & Lipid clinic of Alaska. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Specialty Clinic at (907) 235-0310.

The experiences instructors of this program are:

Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator PeggyEllen Kleinleder, BSN, RN, CDE

PeggyEllen is a diabetes care and education specialist with over 20 years of experience and training in diabetes education and chronic disease self-management.  She enjoys working with people of all ages and with all types of diabetes, to help them find the tools and strategies that work for them. She understands the financial, psychological, and physical demands that diabetes can place on individuals and families, and works to support people in finding creative solutions to whatever challenges they are facing. As a nurse, PeggyEllen keeps up to date on the new medications and technologies that are making living with diabetes easier. As a person with diabetes herself, she has learned to value problem solving, brainstorming, and team work with health care providers. Collaboration is the key to living well with diabetes.

Clinical Dietician Patricia Doran, MPH, RDN